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Message from the Ambassador-designate

I am truly honoured to have been appointed Canadian Ambassador to France by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and I am thrilled to join the team at the Embassy of Canada in Paris.

Canada and France have had a unique bond for centuries. This strong relationship is founded upon our shared language and history, as well as common values our two countries champion with pride: democracy, human rights, progress and the defence of fundamental freedoms.

Proud to be the first woman to carry Canada’s voice in France, and driven by the will to surpass myself in everything I do, I will devote all my energy towards strengthening our ties. Be it political, economic, cultural or scientific exchanges, there have never been so many opportunities for our two countries and, on a larger scale, between Canada and Europe. I will strive to reinforce the ties that unite us, so that we may face the challenges of the 21st century hand in hand.

I very much look forward to fully taking on my duties and encourage you all to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and on this website.

Ms. Isabelle HudonAmbassador-designate

Biography

Ms. Isabelle Hudon was appointed ambassador of Canada to France by the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, on September 29th, 2017.

Prior to her appointment as ambassador, Ms. Hudon was executive chair of Sun Life Financial Quebec, and senior vice-president of client solutions at Sun Life Financial Canada. From August 2010 until September 2015, Ms. Hudon acted as Sun Life Financial Quebec’s president. Under her leadership, Sun Life Financial experienced impressive growth in all business lines in Quebec and returned to a place of prominence in the community.

Ms. Hudon is well known as a businesswoman with outstanding leadership skills. Her strong business experience, boundless energy and deep community involvement have made her the centre of many networks. From 2004 to 2008, Ms. Hudon was president and chief executive officer of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, where she contributed to expanding the organization’s influence and confirming its relevance. She then served as president of Marketel.

In March 2016, Ms. Hudon was awarded the Province of Quebec’s Medal of the National Assembly for her commitment to the cause of women’s ambition. In 2015 and 2016, the business journal Finance et Investissement [Finance and Investment] placed Ms. Hudon among the top five in its annual ranking of the “Top 25” in Quebec’s financial industry. In 2014, she was inducted to the “Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100” Hall of Fame, having been named to the Top 100 list of Canada's Most Powerful Women in 2006, 2012 and 2013. She also received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for her work in raising awareness of the importance of culture in Canada.

Ms. Hudon’s active dedication to the business community has seen her sit on the boards of a number of organizations, including Hydro-Québec, the Mount Royal Club and Groupe Marcelle. She was enrolled in the corporate governance program at the Collège des administrateurs de sociétés [college of corporate directors], which is affiliated with Université Laval [Laval University], and completed the financial literacy program at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.

Isabelle Hudon was a member of the federal government’s advisory council created to promote the participation of women on corporate boards. She is also the co-founder of L’Effet A, a movement that aims to help women achieve their professional ambitions.